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Convicted Felon Operating A Grow House And Illegally Possessing Firearms In San Leandro Sentenced To 78 Months In Prison

OAKLAND, Calif. – This week, Vincent Nguyen was sentenced to 78 months in prison for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, possessing with the intent to distribute marijuana, and being a felon in possession of firearms, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.

Nguyen was arrested on Jan. 10, 2012, after complaints from citizens led to an investigation by the San Leandro Police Department. Nguyen pleaded guilty on Oct. 31, 2012.

In his plea agreement, Nguyen admitted that from August 2011 through January 2012, he, along with others, operated a marijuana grow house at 3471 Carrillo Drive in San Leandro, Calif. He was found in possession of 82 mature marijuana plants, almost one kilogram of marijuana packaged for sale, a Norinco US 7.62 caliber rifle with a high capacity magazine, a Romak-Romarm 7.62 caliber assault rifle that had been stolen, and a .45 caliber Smith & Wesson semiautomatic pistol. In addition, about $10,000 in cash, a 9mm Bryco Arms semiautomatic pistol, and more than 100 rounds of various caliber ammunition were found at 3471 Carrillo Drive and seized by law enforcement.

Nguyen, 21, of Oakland, had previously been convicted in 2010 for felony possession of marijuana for sale.

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton, who also sentenced Nguyen to 3 years of supervised release. Nguyen was indicted, with others, by a federal grand jury on June 7, 2012. Co-defendants Van Do Nguyen and Loc Huynh were sentenced by Judge Hamilton on January 23, 2013, to 72 months and 87 months in prison, respectively.

Brian C. Lewis is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Janice Pagsanjan. The prosecution is also the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.